This topic

Re: Connecting a corded phone to Open Reach fibre optic installations

Redman1 — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:34:17 GMT

A BT431 plug will not fit a 'tp-link Smart Hub as supplied by my service supplier Fleur Telecom. This plug is designed to fit the standard copper wire box used for decades that is now made obsolete by fibre optic cables and the new distributor box.

I believe that the green socket on the Hub will accept a later form of LAN plug but that leaves me with a telephone that has a traditional 4 pin telephone plug at it's base. The Open Reach Engineer was unable to offer a clear solution to this and the grey DSL lead provided with the 'tp-link' (not used in the installation) is as much use as a Chocolate Teapot. At the very least, Open Reach should provide clear information on how to connect a traditional corded phone to the new hub.

I'm pretty aggrieved that I have been forced to convert, have lost my corded phone temporarily, have no possibility of spur lines to other corded phones in other parts of my large house and am therefore forced towards using a DEC system. Progress should be customer led, not imposed from above whenever a new sales opportunity arises.

Re: Connecting a corded phone to Open Reach fibre optic installations

WSH — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:46:46 GMT

If you are trying to use BT's Digital Voice, it only works through their Home Hub. A TP-Link router is a waste of time, as it will never work.

Re: Connecting a corded phone to Open Reach fibre optic installations

licquorice — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:48:48 GMT

Why on earth are you posting nonsense on a BT forum when your supplier is not BT?

Openreach only provide the network, they don't provide the end user equipment.

Re: Connecting a corded phone to Open Reach fibre optic installations

imjolly — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:50:41 GMT

@Redman1

a standard phone connector BT431 will fit the SH3 so your information is incorrect

Re: Connecting a corded phone to Open Reach fibre optic installations

WSH — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:51:01 GMT

The internationally recognised "phone socket" is the RJ11. A third-party telephone adapter (or ATA) may be using that but, as I said, it will not work with the BT system. You would be better posing the question to you own ISP, as we here are only fellow customers.

Re: Connecting a corded phone to Open Reach fibre optic installations

Redman1 — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:54:06 GMT

I simply wish to connect a BT phone as I have used previously. from what you say it seems that I have been supplied with a hub by Fleur Telecom that will not support this. Thank You for your help.

Re: Connecting a corded phone to Open Reach fibre optic installations

Redman1 — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:03:06 GMT

It seems that I need a BT SH3 in order to use my current Duet 210 whereas I have been supplied with a 'tp-link' that doesn't support that. Thank You for clarifying the difference.

Re: Connecting a corded phone to Open Reach fibre optic installations

WSH — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:06:21 GMT

The real question is who is now providing your phone service? Is it Fleur or BT? If the former, a BT Home Hub won't help.

BT Digital Voice (DV) is a proprietary system and only works through BT equipment.

Re: Connecting a corded phone to Open Reach fibre optic installations

licquorice — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:13:38 GMT

This has absolutely nothing to do with BT.

Re: Connecting a corded phone to Open Reach fibre optic installations

Redman1 — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:32:14 GMT

I thought that having a BT phone might make it relevant. Thanks to the other replies I now am better informed and can explore solutions that might also mean changing to a BT line.

Re: Connecting a corded phone to Open Reach fibre optic installations

WSH — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:36:34 GMT

While I think about it, you can get RJ11 to BT 431 adapters. Take a look on Amazon. (Sorry, we are not allowed to post links to commercial sites, otherwise I'd point you in the right direction). As I said, though, the real issue is who is providing the phone service and that BT's DV will not work through third-party equipment.

Re: Connecting a corded phone to Open Reach fibre optic installations

FLC — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 16:39:34 GMT

@Redman1

According to Fleur's documentation, there should have been an adapter included with the router. They refer to it as a VOIP adapter & it should look something like this:

Check the box & if it's missing, give them a call.

Re: Connecting a corded phone to Open Reach fibre optic installations

licquorice — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 18:58:11 GMT

It's simply an RJ11- BT431 adapter. According to Fleur's documentation, the phone port on their router is RJ11 rather than BT431.

Re: Connecting a corded phone to Open Reach fibre optic installations

WSH — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 19:56:43 GMT

I thought I’d said all this earlier but just to summarize:

The socket on the TP-Link will be an RJ11.
You will need an adapter to plug a phone into it.
Fleur should have provided an adapter but you can get one from Amazon for a fiver, if necessary.
If your phone service is BT Digital Voice, it will not work through the TP-Link.
If your phone service is provided by Fleur, it will not work through a BT Home Hub.